Although the Education Law contains a new article that obliges school administration to prosecute a parent who attacks a teacher at school, the relevant Trade Union claims that such cases are being hidden.
"We currently have two cases in Podgorica, where we have learned that there have been major incidents, both physical and sexual harassment of teachers. We are monitoring the situation, we are in contact with trade union organizations and teachers, we are waiting for the administration's reaction, we expect that a certain disciplinary measure will be imposed at the department councils," said the president of the Education Union, Radomir Božović.
Until that happens, the Union does not have the authority to go public without concrete evidence and witnesses, says Božović.
"These cases come to us, whenever we have the opportunity, we advise teachers, provide legal support and advise them not to hide it, because any cover-up gives some future generations the wind in their sails to do whatever they want. The situation is worrying and alarming," he points out.
If they don't have the support of the administration, teachers withdraw, Božović points out – and the administration often protects children whose parents are certain powerful people. Danijela Perišić, a teacher at the "Maksim Gorki" elementary school, also agrees that the role of teachers in society has been weakened.
"Teachers are expected to do much more than they used to, to be an educator, a psychologist, a counselor, to provide support to students. This is often a great responsibility on the teacher, and there is a lack of greater support from society and the system as a whole. Today, relationships between students and teachers are much more flexible, which can be an advantage, but that line between freedom and respect is often crossed," she says.
Sometimes parents are overprotective of their children and are against any criticism directed at their discipline and success, claims Perišić. He says this is one of the causes of the eroded authority of teachers.
"As for teachers, they are sometimes dissatisfied and do not feel safe because there is no timely reaction from the education system and we feel insufficiently supported and frustrated because of that," Perišić concludes.
Improving the working conditions of educators, timely reaction and sanctioning of those who express any form of violence towards teachers, as well as the cooperation of parents, are necessary in order to improve the position of teachers, says Perišić. The Union notes that the Criminal Code, which they expect to be adopted by the end of the year, should include a new article for the protection of educational, health and social workers, which prescribes penalties for perpetrators of violence outside the schoolyard.
